Double deck feed bunk



Sept. 10, 1963 E. P. HAEN DOUBLE DECK FEED BUNK Filed March 6, 1961 3 IN V EN TOR.

United States Patent 3,103,203 DOUBLE DECK FEED BUNK Eugene P. Ilaen, Holland, Wis. (Rte. 3, Kaukauna, Wis.) Filed Mar. 6, 1961, Ser. No. 93,576 3 Claims. (Cl. 119-59) This invention relates generally to feed bunks, and more particularly to a double deck feed bunk, whereby feed may be selectively delivered from an overhead feed delivery means to either of the two bunks comprising the double deck bunk.

" i The purpose of this invention is to eliminate the costly expenditure of separate feed means for cattle and hogs.

An object of this invention is the provision of an improved feed bunk wherein a hinged upper deck, comprising an upper feed bunk, disposed over-a lower fixed feed bunk, is operative to be swung vertically open to allow feed from an overhead feed delivery means to drop feed selectively into said lower feed bunk.

. Another object is to provide an improved feed bunk wherein a hinged deck, comprising a feed bunk, is operative to be swung at an angle to the horizontal to facilitate the cleaning thereof or the dumping of accumulated snow therefrom.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of an improved double deck feed bunk wherein a hinged upper'deck, comprising an upper feed bunk, is operative to be swung across the. approach way to the lower feed bunk as a guard means, thereby preventing access of hogs to said lower feed bunk such as during the'cleaning thereof or during the delivery of feed thereto. 1

Yet another object is to provide an improved double deck feed bunk wherein a hinged upper deck, comprising an upper feed bunk, is operative to be swung substantially vertically open thereby to function as a wind deflecting baflle for an associated feed delivery means.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved double deck feed bunk wherein a hinged upper deck, comprising an upper feed bunk, is operative to be swung at a slight inclined angle to the horizontal to drain rain therefrom and discharge said rain externally of the lower bunk.

Still a further object is toprovide an improved feed bunk wherein a hinged deck, comprising a feed bunk, is operative to be swung at a slight angle to the horizontal, and away from associated side boards, thereby preventing the hinged deck becoming immobilized due to freezelocking of the hinged deck to the fixed sides, during cold and rainy weather conditions.

Other specific objects and many of the attend-ant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-section view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. 1, showing in particular the operative hinged deck drawn to an enlarged scale; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary plan view taken on line 33 of FIG. 1, showing the deck sections and hinge means therefore drawn to an enlarged scale.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIG. 1, a supply hopper generally indicated at connected with. an out going auger type tube conveyor or delivery means generally indicated at 11. Said convey-or means is supported depending from a roof structure mounted on posts, generally indicated at 12 and 13, respectively. The posts 13 3) 03"20 3 Patented Sept. 10, 1963 are fixed upright in a concrete foundation generallyindicated at 14 provided with spaced and parallel recessed troughs 15 and 16 serving as lower feed bunks for hogs.

The concrete foundation, generally indicated at 14, is an elongated concrete structure having a pair of similar longitudinal recessed troughs 15 and 16 therein, and having a raised flat land section 17 therebetween, said land section 17 being disposed centrally of'the'foundation, see FIG. 2.

The side edge portions of said foundation, between the troughs and their associated iouudation sides, decline or slope downwardly, as at 18 and 19, respectively, to provide a drainage slope awayfrorn the troughs.

The troughs commence and'terminate with end walls such as indicated at 21 and 22, respectively, thereby pro viding end walls for the containment "of feed in the troughs, at the end portions thereof.

The, inner end portion 23 of said foundation, see MG] 1, is formed without the troughs ext-ending therethrough and is provided with a flat surface for the mounting of supply hopper 10 thereon.

Supply hopper 1%) comprises a container having verti-' outwardly through an aperture in rear end Wall 27 which serves as a bearing for said shaft end.

The hopper 19 is supported by a pair of rear legs such as indicated at 32, and a pair of front legs such 'as' indicated at 33, said leg-s being secured to said hopper by means of welds such as indicated at-34 and 35, respectively. The legs are provided with hearing plates such as indicated at 36, at the lower end of said legs, for seating said legs on the concrete foundation. Bolts 37, (ll? rected through apertures in said plates, and intolthe concrete foundation, provide means for securing the hopper legs to the foundation.

The roof structure 12 is supported by oppositely dis: posed and paired posts, such as indicated at 38 and 39, see .FIG. 2, suitably spaced along the foundation, said roof supporting posts being fixed upright along the sloping side edge portions of said foundation.

The roof structure 12 compnises longitudinal roof beams 41 and 42 secured to the top end portions of the roof supporting posts by means of bolts such as indicated at 43, see FIG. 2. Lateral beams such as indicated at 44 are secured across the paired posts by means of bolts such as indicated at 45. Longitudinalstringers such as indicated at 46 and 47 are secured across the ends of said lateral beams by means of spikes such as indicated at 48. An arcuate cover plate 49, or the like, is disposed on said roof beam-s and stringers, and secured thereto as by lag bolts 51. Said cover plate is of a width sufficiently large to extend beyond the stringers, and functions to protect the feed bunks from rain or snow which would ordinarily fall therein. Furthermore, said roof structure protects the delivery tube mean's. 11 from rain or snow stalling therein through the discharge openings thereof.

Pendentsupport'frames, such as indicated generally at 5 2, depending from the roof structure, comprise oppositely disposed and paired rodular hangers, such as indicated at 53 "and 54, secured at their upper end to the lateral beams 44vby means of bolts such as indicated at 55. The lower Trunnion-ed rollers such as indicated at 62 and 63 are journalled across said bars. Said rollers are spaced from each other and have their axes disposed in the same horizontal plane. The portions of the bars between the rollers are arcuately cut out, such as indicated at 64, to freely accommodate the disposition and support of the delivery tube 65 on said rollers.

Said delivery tube 65 communicates with the interior of the hopper through means of an aperture in the front wall 26 of said hopper, and is secured thereto by means of bolts 66 directed through apertures in tube flange 67 and in the front -wall 26-.

The auger 29 in the hopper is extended into and through the tube 65 as indicated at 6 8, 69 and 71.

The feed delivery tube 65 is provided with a series of progressively wider discharge openings such as indicated at 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77 and 78, respectively, which feed, conveyed by the auger, is discharged through said openings and distributed at preselected feeding stations into and along the feed bunks hereinafter described.

Drive means, generally indicated at 79, are provided to drive the anger 29; Said drive means comprise a motor 81 mounted on a plate 82 supported by bracket-s such as indicated at 83 welded to the hopper legs 32. Said motor is provided with a sheave 84 fixed on the motor shaft 85 to rotate therewith. A sheave 86 is fixed on auger shaft 31; and a belt 87 is trained over motor sheave 84 and auger sheave 86 to transmit power therebetween.

In order to direct feed into either of the right or left feed bunks, such as- 15 and 16, respectively, a deflector plate means, generally indicated at 88, is provided. Said deflector plate means comprises a series of elongated longitudinally disposed deflector plates such as indicated at 89 pivotally mounted under the discharge openings of the feed delivery means to receive feed therefrom for deflective distribution of said feed to either of said feed bunks, see FIG. 2. Said deflector plate means can be considered as part of the feed delivery means.

The end portions of said deflector plates are provided with lateral plate brackets, such as indicated at 9 1, secured to said deflector plates by any conventional securing means not shown. The web portion of said brackets are apertu-red to receive pins therein such as indicated at 92 whereby the deflector plates are pivotally mounted thereon. Said pins 92 are fixed on a hanger, such as indicated at 93, depending from support bars 59 and secured thereto as by welding 94. Additional apertures are provided in said bracket webs, such as indicated at 95, for the insertion therein of removable adjusting pins, such as indicated at 96, for fixing the deflector plates in a preselected right or leftdeflective position.

On the land 17 between the bunks or troughs 15 and 16 is mounted an elongated triangular prismatic structure 97, much like a common gable roof structure, fixed to the foundation 14 by means of studbolts 98. The sloping sides 99 and 101 of said guide structure 97 functions to guide feed, that iialls thereon, to their respective hog troughs or bunks 15 and 16. Said sloping sides 99 and 101 are extensions of the inner sides of feed bunks 15 and 16, respectively.

Pivotaliupper feedbunk means, such as indicated genorally at 102 and 103, see FIG. 2, are provided above lower feed bunks 115 and 16, respectively. Said upper feed bunks comprise a series of individual bunks along each side, each feed bunk being of a length substantially equal to the distance between adjacent roof supporting posts 13. Having the upper bunks made up of a plurality of individual sections, allows for greater flexibility of their use, that is, some sections may be tilted upwardly and baokw-ardly, against the posts 113, to the inoperative dotted line position indicated at 104, while the remaining bunks may be operatively manipulated as desired and suitable for feeding purposes, as hereinafter further described.

In view of the fact that each upper bunk means is similar inco nstruction, only one such bunk means will be described. 1

Upper bunk means -102, see FIG. 3, comprises a deck 105 pivotally mounted on adjacent roof support posts 33 and 106 through means of pins 107 and 108, respectively. The ends of said deck 105 are provided with angle iron lugs 109 and 111, respectively, secured to said deck by means of screws such as indicated at 112 and 113, respectively. Apertures are provided in the webs of said lugs, as indicated at 114 and 115, to receive the pins 107 and 103, respectively, therein.

The pins 107 and 108 are press fit in apertures in ear plates 116 and 117, respectively, and protrude from each side of said ear plates to accommodate said bunk decks on either side thereof. Said ear plates are secured to the adjacent posts 38 and 106 as by welding 118 and 119, respectively.

it is to be noted that the pivotal axis of said bunk deck 105 is not along one edge as is customary for hinged arrangements, but is disposed intermediate the side edges of said bunk deck. More particularly, said pivotal axis is disposed substantially centrally of the deck, and specifically, rearwardly adjacent the center of said deck so that an overbalanoiug effect is established to ovenbalance the deck to a down or closed position, such as indicated by the closed solid line position, against the prismatic guide structure, of deck 105 in FIG. 2.

In its normal operative position the deck 105 is hori- Zontally disposed with its front edge engaged against the sloping side 99 of the prismatic guide structure 91. The rear edge guard portion 121, of deck 105, extending rearwardly of the axis of pivot pin 107, extends a suitable distance therebeyond to associate with side rail or retainer beam 122 and to clear and pass foundation erris 123 as hereinafiter disclosed. Said rear edge guard portion 121, when swung down, serves as a guard means to prevent the access of bogs to the lower feed bunk means during the cleaning thereof or during the delivery of teed thereto.

Side rail beam 122 is disposed against the outer portions of posts 38 and 106 and secured thereto as by means of bolt 124. The beam is displaced slightly above the rear portion 121 of deck 105, such as indicated at 125, to provide Water drain-age space therebetween, and to otherwise prevent the freezing of said rear portion 121 to the underside of the beam 122 in the event rain or drifting snow should accumulate and freeze said members together, resulting in the deck becoming pivotally inoperative.

The sturdy fixed beam 122 functions to resist the stress and strain of cattle as they press toward the feed bunk; said beam also functions as a bunk side board to prevent feed from spilling oi the deck 105; and said beam iur-th-er cfiunctions as a guard protecting the pivotal deck 105 from the pressure of feeding cattle. In last respect, it should be noted that the outer edge 126 of pivotal deck 105 is inset relative to the outer face of the beam 122 thereby avoiding the direct application of cattle pressure to the pivotal deck.

Similar beam means 122a is provided for the opposite upper bunk means 103.

To pivotally actuate the deck 105, there is provided a crank means, generally indicated at 126, comprising a crank 127 fixed to a horizontal shaft 128 rotatably mounted in sleeve bearings, such as indicated at 129, said sleeve bearings being welded to the roof supporting posts 13, see FIG. 1. The crank is fixed to the shaft 128 by means of set screws, such as indicated at 131. Flexible means, connecting said shaft 128 and pivotal deck 105, such as indicated by chains at 132 and 133, are provided at each end of pivotal deck 105 to communicate a "lifting force from the crank means to the deck 105. The chains are connected to said shaft and deck by means of screws such as indicatedat134 and 135, respectively.

Similar crank means is provided for the opposite upper bunk means 103.

In the absence of the above crank control means, the deck bunks 105 can be swung upwardly, manually.

A hook 138, welded to the hopper through means of eye 139, hookedly engages with crank 127 to fix the deck 105 in approximately any pivotal posit-ion desired.

Operation-Came or (hog feed is loaded in hopper as 'a source of supply from which it is withdrawn by the auger 29 and conveyed for delivery to the cattle or hog bunks through means of the tube discharge openings 72, 7 3, 7 land the like.

In its normal operating position, pivotal deck 105 is horizontally disposed and rests against the prismatic guide structure 97. p

In the event hog feed is first to be distributed, the hopper is filled with hog feed and the crank means 126 is then manipulated to raise the pivotal deck 105 to the dotted line position 136. In this lifted deck position, hog feed discharged from the delivery tube means 11 falls onto the deflector plate means 88 and thence directly into lower hog trough or bunk 15. Some feed will fall from the deflector plate means 88 onto the prismatic guide means 97 and thence into bunk 15, indirectly. The lifted deck position acts as a wind :baffle against strong winds that may tend to blow the feed away, in its long drop from the delivery tube to the lower bunk 15.

The prismatic guide means 97 functions not only as a guide means, guiding feed that may fall thereon into the hog bunk 15, but also functions as a rest or support for the pivotal deck 105 in its lowermost and horizontal normal operating position. Furthermore, the upwardly projecting prismatic guide means acts as a wind baflle.

After the hog feed has been distributed, the hopper can then be loaded with cattle feed. In this event, the crank means 126 is manipulated to lower the pivotal deck I 105 .to the solid line position shown in FIG. 2, a position of rest against the prismatic guide means 97. In this lowered normal operating position, cattle feed discharged from the delivery tuibe means 11 falls onto deflector plate means 88 and thence onto the pivotal bunk deck 105. In the absence of the deflector plate means, the feed falls onto the apex of the prismatic structure 97 and thence flows onto the bunk deck 105. Obviously, some of the feed falls onto the deck bunk 105, directly.

In the event it becomes'necessary to clean the bunk deck 105 of foreign matter such as snow, ice, feed encrustation, or the like, said deck can be pivotally lifted to the dotted line position 137 and the above mentioned foreign matter can be expediently scraped therefrom. During such scraping operations the foreign matter slides down the slope deck 105, thence onto the sloped foundation edge portion 18, and thence onto the ground. Such an ular dispositionmen-t of the bunk deck 155 also serves to block the access of hogs to the lower bunk during the cleaning of the hog bunk, or during the delivery of feed to said bunk.

In the absence of the deflector plate means 88, feed I from the discharge openings 72, 73, 74, etc., falls directly onto the apex of the prismatic guide structure and flows down the opposite sides 99 and 101 of said guide structure, in substantially equal parts, to the bunks 15 and 16, respectively.

The presence of the deflector plate means 88 allows all of the feed issuing from the discharge openings to be selectively diverted to one side or the other, that is to bunk 15 or to bunk 16.

Some characteristic features of this invention are the provision of a double deck feed bunk means wherein a pivotal upper deck bunk is operative to be swung vertically open to allow feed from an overhead feed delivery means to drop feed selectively into an associated lower feed bunk; the provision of a pivotal deck feed bunk operative to be swung at an angle to the horizontal to facilitate the cleaning thereof; the provision of a double deck feed bunk means wherein a pivotal upper deck bunk, pivotally mounted about an axis intermediate its front and back edges, is operative to be swung at an angle to the horizontal to facilitate the cleaning thereof, the rearwardly extending portion of said deck discharging the foreign matter therefrom externally of the lower feed bunk means; the provision of a deck feed bunk, pivotally mounted about a longitudinal axis approximately centrally of said deck, operative to be swung at an angle to the horizontal to facilitate the cleaning thereof, the rearwardly extending portion of said deck being associated with the sloped edge of a foundation structure cooperating to discharge said foreign material externally of said foundation structure; the provision of a pivotal deck bunk operative to be positioned at an angle to drain rain and discharge same therefrom, and to prevent freeze-locking of said deck to an associated fixed side board; the provision of a double feed bunk means wherein a hinged upper deck bunk is operative to be swung substantially to said sideboard, said fixed side board serving as a guard to said pivotal deck; and the provision of a double deck feed bunk means having a pivotal upper teed deck bunk and a fixed lower feed bunk, wherein the upper pivotal feed deck bunk is operative to be pivoted across the approach way to the lower feed bunk thereby preventing access of hogs to said lower feed bunk such as during the cleaning thereof or during the delivery of hog feed thereto.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood, that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is:

#1. A double deck feed bunk, comprising: lower hog feed bunk means having a back wall extension extending upwardly and backwardly; upper cattle feed bunk means disposed spaced BIbCr-VC end over said lower feed bunk means and substantially parallel therewith; support means; means for pivotally mounting said upper feed bunk means on said support means, the pivotal axis being disposed longitudinally of said upper fed bunk means, and the downward swing of the upper feed bunk being limited to a substantially horizontal feed receiving position through means of its engagement with said back wall extension; and feed delivery means for conveying feed and discharging and distributing said feed into and along said upper feed bunk means, said feed delivery means being disposed above and substantially over said upper feed I bunk means; whereby feed from the feed delivery means can be selectively delivered to either the upper feed bunk means when it is normally disposed substantially horizontally across the path of falling feed discharged from the feed delivery means, or to the lower feed bunk means when the upper feed bunk means is swung pivotally upwardly to allow discharged feed to fall into said lower feed bunk means.

2. A double deck feed bunk, comprising: lower hog feed bunk means having a back wall extension extending upwardly and backwardly; upper cattle feed bunk means disposed spaced above and over said lower feed bunk means and substantially parallel therewith; support means; means for pivotally mounting said upper feed means on said support means, the pivotal axis being disposed longitudinally of said upper feed bunk means, and the downward swing of the upper feed bunk means being limited to a substantially horizontal feed receiving position through means of its engagement with said back wall extension.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the upper feed bunk is adapted to be stop engaged on said back wall extension at a distance spaced downwardly from the top '5 s edge of said back Wall extension, thereby to provide an 402,145 Critchfield et a1 Apr. 30, 1889 associated retaining side wall to contain feed on the upper 1,102,004- Conbo'ie June. 30, 1914 feed bunk when said upper feed bunk is operatively dis- 1,175,124v Clough Mar. 14, 1916 posed in a. substantially horizontal feed receiving position. 1,190,892 Hartt July 11, 1916 5 2,867,314 Hansen Jan. 6,.1959 References Cited in the file of this patent 3,029,925 Martin et a1 Apr. 17, 1962 UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS 41,216 Hale Jan. 12, 1864 494,042 Italy May 15, 1954 nnr 

1. A DOUBLE DECK FEED BUNK, COMPRISING: LOWER HOG FEED BUNK MEANS HAVING A BACK WALL EXTENSION EXTENDING UPWARDLY AND BACKWARDLY; UPPER CATTLE FEED BUNK MEANS DISPOSED SPACED ABOVE AND OVER SAID LOWER FEED BUNK MEANS AND SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL THEREWITH; SUPPORT MEANS; MEANS FOR PIVOTALLY MOUNTING SAID UPPER FEED BUNK MEANS ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS, THE PIVOTAL AXIS BEING DISPOSED LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID UPPER FED BUNK MEANS, AND THE DOWNWARD SWING OF THE UPPER FEED BUNK BEING LIMITED TO A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL FEED RECEIVING POSITION THROUGH MEANS OF ITS ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID BACK WALL EXTENSION; AND FEED DELIVERY MEANS FOR CONVEYING FEED AND DISCHARGING AND DISTRIBUTING SAID FEED INTO AND ALONG SAID UPPER FEED BUNK MEANS, SAID FEED DELIVERY MEANS BEING DISPOSED ABOVE AND SUBSTANTIALLY OVER SAID UPPER FEED BUNK MEANS; WHEREBY FEED FROM THE FEED DELIVERY MEANS CAN BE SELECTIVELY DELIVERED TO EITHER THE UPPER FEED BUNK MEANS WHEN IT IS NORMALLY DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTALLY ACROSS THE PATH OF FALLING FEED DISCHARGED FROM THE FEED DELIVERY MEANS, OR TO THE LOWER FEED BUNK MEANS WHEN THE UPPER FEED BUNK MEANS IS SWUNG PIVOTALLY UPWARDLY TO ALLOW DISCHARGED FEED TO FALL INTO SAID LOWER FEED BUNK MEANS. 